Tag Archives: flowers

It’s exhausting, but oh so satisfying.

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When you have a lawn as big as ours, mowing can be a two day affair. The husband and I tag team it… me on the push mower for the front lawn, sides, upper back and around the barn…. him on the tractor for the large expanses. Did I mention we have a veritable mowing fleet?

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While his sections are bigger, mine are actually harder because I make a point of never blowing grass in the flower beds.

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That mulched section under the tree used to be filled with perennials…

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Until the husband flung so much grass in there all the flowers got choked out and I got tired of breaking my back weeding. But I digress..

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After mowing comes trimming.

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And trust me, there’s a lot of that. I just added these two beauties to my stone wall bed…

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And filled the baby barn’s bed with its annual marigolds. I added some tickseed (coreopsis) as well, but I’m afraid it might get too much sun… so it’s success has yet to be determined.

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Yup, it’s exhausting.

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But when everything is freshly mowed and trimmed?

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I’m a seriously happy camper.

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Though the same can’t be said for his Lordship….

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Who gives me the evil eye from the back of the couch.

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A good old fashioned shopping trip.

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Being fully vaccinated, I’m starting to feel safer venturing out with a friend for some long over due retail therapy. First stop? A nursery.

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Because as I’ve said previously, you can never have too many flowers.

Second stop? Goodwill… where I saw this.

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Although I had no idea what it was. At first I thought it was a cat with big tatas wearing a cape and waving. Then I figured out it was a cape wearing kangaroo with boxing gloves and an open pouch. The question is… why does such a thing exist?

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We visited a gift store with strange mossy things…

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But I did like the upside down air plant stuck inside a dried urchin.

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And if you ever want a suede comforter with barbed wire?

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Complete with turquoise stars and fringed pillow shams? I can totally hook you up. ( Although I won’t be spending the night in your guest room. Uh uh. Nope. )

I had to laugh at the rainbow coalition of Crocs.

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Does anyone even wear those monstrosities anymore?

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And finally, this was the one that got away. I’m filled with regret for not scooping that little gem up when I saw it. Ice cubes in 8 minutes? I totally should have bought that for our man cave bar.

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Because you can never have too many flowers….

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The weather is warming, the grass is greening and the danger of frost has passed… we hope. (I live in Maine, it can snow on Memorial Day) So now it’s time for blooms!

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There’s nothing I love more than going greenhouse shopping. Being surrounded by bright flowering plants probably drops my blood pressure by 20 points. It also drops my bank balance considerably, but we won’t talk about that.

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I came home with this interesting shrub.

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A weigela florida. Fingers crossed it does well in the spot I picked.

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Two boxes of pretties for my front garden bed…

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Which turns out wasn’t nearly enough. Damn, I’ll have to go shopping again.

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A hanging geranium for the back deck… and for Lord Dudley to stare at. That’s him in the window directly behind it.. plotting revenge on me for keeping him in the house.

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And finally, a bouquet for the kitchen.

Flowers. They always make me smile.

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Well, almost always.

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Love was in the air.

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A rather tardy Valentines Day post.

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A bouquet of flowers was delivered that morning….

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And while I don’t think it was our local florist’s best work, the sentiment remained steadfast.

Early afternoon found us out in the barn and back at the Scrabble board.

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Although the way it started reminded me a little too much of Bill and Monica.

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Did I win?

Such a silly question.

Unbeknownst to my husband, I’d made early evening reservations at one of his favorite restaurants and before the place got too crowded, we slipped in for a glorious meal.

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Long stemmed red roses were given to ladies upon entry… and petals were scattered everywhere. On the floor, on the window sills, on the chairs…..

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Even under the beer taps.

We settled happily at the bar (the husband’s preferred spot because one of the bartenders was a Marine which can lead to hours long conversations) and I tucked into a few delightful Rum Punches. We had appetizers that I forgot to photograph… garlic Parmesan wings for the husband, creamy clam chowder for me… and were awaiting our meals when this older couple sat down across from us.

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In case you can’t see it, the man was wearing a Marine Corps tee shirt. It was at that moment I knew I was doomed.

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Like recognizes like… and within minutes the gentleman uttered the words I never want to hear on Valentines Day.

Semper Fi.

My husband bought them a round of drinks. They bought us a round of drinks. Military stories were traded across the bar….and by the time our lovely meals arrived?

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Filet Oscar with fresh lobster, roasted fingerling potatoes and grilled asparagus for the husband.

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Filet au Poivre with cremini mushroom brandied cream sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes and grilled asparagus for me…

I’d lost him.

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And ended up eating most of my meal alone.

So when I said love was in the air?

Apparently I was talking about the Corps.

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He loves me.

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And I love him.

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Which is easy to do when he has things like this delivered for my birthday a while back.

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Our local florist does lovely arrangements.

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But it’s a bit of a challenge when every time they ask my husband what colors I like, he tells them green.

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And since green flowers are rather rare, I tend to get a lot of predominantly white bouquets.

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Still pretty, and I’m not complaining.

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But.

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🤣 🤣 🤣

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Still in love!

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Yeah, yeah… still the husband. Soul mate, best friend, whatever.

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But today I’m talking about critters.

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Whimsical…

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Magical….

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Absolutely adorable….

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Little critters.

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Yes, even the pesky red squirrel.

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And the mice that make their winter nests in our garage.

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The fact that these creatures are ephemeral and disappear with the first gust of wind just makes it bittersweet.

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The very definition of random.

 

Let’s start with a beautiful picture I snapped the other night when we took a ride up the coast.

 

 

Maine summer on the ocean.

You can’t beat it.

 

 

Our neighbor invited us over to see their tree house up close and personal.

 

 

Yes, the tree adjacent tree house I complained about in my blog a while back.

So… which one of you weasels ratted me out?

 

Adverbs.

Or rather, the death of them… is driving me to drink.

 

 

Real delicious?

Make the next one a double.

 

 

Grocery store bouquets.

 

 

Because sometimes a girl just has to buy herself flowers.

 

 

Socks… for my table?

Wonder if the dryer will eat those as well.

 

And finally, because you know I couldn’t resist….

 

 

You’re welcome.

They’re not worthy.

 

Not worthy of a blog of their own, but random interesting stuff all the same.

(And by interesting, you know I mean not at all interesting… just random information you didn’t want nor need but I feel compelled to share anyway)

 

 

I read a lot…. and before now have never thought of myself as any of these.

But from now on?

I’m an ink drinker all the way.

 

 

Yes, I bought myself a frying pan that’s reinforced by diamonds.

Because my fried chicken deserves the very best.

 

 

My rose is blooming like a lolly pop.

 

 

Is this earth shattering news you can use?

No.

But nothing I say ever is.

 

 

This claims to be the perfect Cosmopolitan recipe.

I shall research it extensively and report back.

 

 

Sadly, we had to shop for 2 headstones for recently passed members of my husband’s family.

After we picked the size of the stone, and the color of the granite….this was what we were given. Sheets of paper with literally thousands of designs that were printed so small, even reading glasses and a magnifying glass barely helped us make them out.

I believe the husband chose a lighthouse for one…. but it could as easily have been a beer keg.

Time will tell.

 

 

Danger Will Robinson!

If you’ve never experienced a browntail moth rash you haven’t lived a full life. Imagine mixing poison ivy with fire ants and chicken pox…. and you might come close.

These little bastards have moved into Maine and are stripping our trees bare. And if you happen to brush up against one of them? Hang on, because you’ll attempt to rip the skin off your bones within 12 hours. Nothing stops the itch except a spray that comes in a one ounce bottle sold by one hospital in the state for $65 per. Insurance won’t cover it and you need a doctor’s prescription to purchase it.

I get the rash at least 3 times a year.

Good times.

And finally, if you’ve been wondering what people are doing to keep busy during the pandemic… or how they’re spending their stimulus money?

Wonder no longer.

 

I’m ready for my close up…..

 

Okay, I admit it.

 

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The little  rat bastards  fellows are cute.

 

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Sitting on the railing….

 

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With vibrant day lilies blooming in the background…..

 

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Voguing for the camera like some fur covered super model.

 

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Though I highly doubt Naomi Campbell ever pooped on her runway.

 

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Cute, yes…

 

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But you’re still a giant pain in my ass!